Separation and preconcentration of persistent organic pollutants by cloud point extraction.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are recognized as a class of poisonous compounds which pose risks of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. Thus, it is very important to detect POPs in environmental and biological samples. The identification and determination of very low levels of POPs in complex matrices is extremely difficult.

On-line flow injection-cloud point preconcentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography.

Cloud point methodology has been used to develop a novel preconcentration and an analytical method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil sample. The nonionic surfactant Tergitol 15-S-7 was successfully used as the surfactant-mediated extractant in both ultrasonic and microwave-assisted extractions. Over 90% of recoveries for various PAHs in soil were obtained under the optimal experimental conditions.